Propelling attachment for children&#39;s vehicles



F. S. SEAGRAVE. PROPELLING ATTACHMENT FOR CHILDREN'S VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. e. 1920.

1 425 229 Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

' 9 I rL g ullllllll! learner ensues.

FBEIDERIG S. SEAGBJAVE, DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PROPELLING ATTACHMENT FOB CHILDRENS VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, Fminnnio S. SnAGRavE, a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propelling Attachments for Childrens Vehicles, of which the following isa specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to means for propelling a childs vehicle, such as a cart, wagon,or other device adapted to support the childs weight and which is adapted to have a forward movement imparted thereto through the medium of an" attachment operated by the child.

It is the object of this invention to provide a very simple is cheap to manufacture, having a minimum number of parts and embodying no springs or other parts liable to break or get out of order, and wherein the'construction is such thata backward pull upon the handle portion puts a pressure upon the ground engaging member or members proportionate to the power exerted and a forward movement of said portion lifts said member or members out of contact, with the ground without the intervention of separate guiding or lift1ng 'A further objectis to provide c'ermeans. tain other new and useful features in the construction and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described. With the above and other ends in view, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which 1 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a childs wagon, or cart with the attachment embodying the invention in operative position thereon; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3' a longitudinal sectional detail of a round 'en'gaging'member; and

ig. f a transverse vertical sectional detail thereof.

As shown in the accompanying drawing,

I the propelling attachment embodying the Specification of Letters Patent.

device for the purpose which- Patented Aug. e, 1922;.

Application filed March 8,1920. Serial No. 364,190.-

invention is shown attached to the upper edge of the body of box 1 of a four wheeled cart or wagon, but it will be understood that this attachment may be applied to other types or forms of childrens vehicles.

The attachment comprises a rocker memher 2 formed of a single rod or the like bent into substantially U-shape with the free ends of the vertical side members or arms 3 bent inwardly to form pivots 1 adapted to engage openings in a pusher member 5 which pusher member, in a similar manner,

is formed from a single rod or the like bent into U-form to provide side legs 6 connected at their upperends by a cross connecting portion 7. forming a hand hold portion to be grasped by the user. The openings to receive the inbent ends 4 of the rocker member 2, are formed in the legs 6 intermediate their ends or at a short distance below the. hand hold portion 7 and that portion of each of said legs between their points of pivotal connection with the rocker'member and their upper ends where they are connected bythe portion. 7, is preferably bent or curved-upwardly. The cross connecting portion 8 of the rocker member 2 connects theside arms 3 of said member and extends across the box 1.- Suitable bearing members or straps 9 embrace the cross member 8 near the angle connection of the arms 3 thereto and these bearings consist of sheet metal straps bent I around the rod with the superposed ends of the straps secured by screws, bolts or other fastening means to the upper edges. of the box.

-When the attachment is used to propel each comprising a rectangular block 11 having a recess 12 in the-upper side thereof to receive the preferably flattened and rounded lower end of the leg 6 having a hole therein and forming an eye 13 to receive a pivot pin 14- engaging a transverse A suitable facing 15 of rubber or other suitable material to frictionally adhere to the surface of the pavement and prevent slippage, extends across the full length and hole in the block.

I block and clamping the ends of the rubber strip between it and the block. This plate width of the bottom or lower face of the block and upward and over the ends thereof,

the end portions of the strip or facing being extended inward from the ends of 'the'block upon'the top thereof and secured" in place by a cap plate 16 secured to the top of the block by screws 17 or other suitable fastening means for. drawing-the platetoward the has a hole'or slot 18 therein through which the end of the rod or leg 6, extends and each:

side edge of the plate is turned downwardly pin is prevented from slipping out endwise;-

i The foot may be quickly detached from the leg by taking out the two screws '17, when theplate may be lifted ,suflicientlyto permit ofthe removal of thepivot pin; and

if-fo'und desirable the rubber facing" may be quickly removed by loosening said screws to release the ends of the facing strip-and anew strip may be vquickly secured in its place; I

a 1 The rocker member 2 forms a 'pivotal'support and carrying member or guide for the pusher member 5 and as'the legs 6 of thepusher extend upwardly beyond their piv'otal connection withthe arms 3 of therocker member and-are provided with the cross J connection forming the hand hold; when 1 a pull is exerted by the I child upon this hand hold, 'the'tendency ofsuch force-is'to turn the legs upon-'their pivotal-connection wlththe rockerarms and force the; feet' 'lO into firm frictional contact with the pavement,

- and this frictional contact is in proportion to the forceexerted by theoperator in swinging the rocker rearwardly" with the feet ji-n contact with the-pavement,"which swinging movement causes a forward movenientofthewagon. l 1 v a When the "child "pushes forward uponthe handhold in swinging'the rocker forwardly so that the feet maybe brought into engagement with the pavement in an advanced position as thewagon-rolls forward, 'the ten- 'dency of'suchforce will be'to turn the legs 6 upon their pivotal connection with the rocker arms and lift the foot from thepavemerit, and thus the lower ends as the, rocker is "swungfor ard andbac'kward; This raising andlowerin'g movement as accomplished and the feet held in ;firm

" the two pivotally connected members; and a simple, cheap and durable construction is securedqwhl'ch may be very readily at-I' vehicle of any description, thus providing a propelling attachment ofthe legs and" attached feet are raised and" loweredwhich may be sold separate from the wagon or other vehicle and readily attached thereto by an unskilled person. I

I Obviously the device may be constructed of other materialthan round rods bent into proper form and the pusher and rocker member may have but a single leg and arm insteadof being made inthe' double or U- form as shown.

7 Other obvious changes may be made in. the device within the scope of theappended claimswandl donot therefore limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement shown. K I Having thusfully described my invention what 'l cl'aim'isf 1 V =1 '1..A propelling attachment for vehicles comprising a pair of rocker arms adaptedto be pivotally attached to a vehicle, and asubstantially U-shaped pusher member providing side legs and a connecting hand-hold portion, said legsbeing pivotally attached to the upper ends of said rocker armsats points adjacent thehand-hol'd -portion.

2. A propelling attachment for vehicles comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped 'members, the free endsof one. member being pivotally connected tothe side legs, of the 1 other member intermediate the ends of said legs. b p

A 'propelling attachment for vehicles comprising a substantially U-shaped pusher member providing side legs and a 'portionw connecting the-legs and forming a handhold, rocker 'armsflpivota'lly attached'at one end to said-legs of saidpusher 'member'in termediate the ends thereof and-"adjacent comprising a pusher member formed of-a said hand-holdportion,- and. means for pivo- 'tally attaching the opposite ends of said rocker-arms toavehicle. I

continuous piece bent into substantially U- Q shape to provideside legs and a connecting portion forming a hand hold; said "side legs being formed with-openings intermediate their ends," a-rocker member formed-of a continuous piece-bent i'into substantially U41.

shape'to provide side arms, the ends ofsaid armsbe ng lnturned to engage in thefopenin'gs insaid legs and-pivotally connectsthe members; andmeans' engaging the connecting portion of the rocker member adjacent" the'arms thereof for pivotally attaching'said 'rnemberto3 vehicle. i I I 5; A propelling attachment fo-r vehicles comprising a rocker member, a pusher mem I ber pivotally connected to the rockerinem a I [contact Wltli the avement, "without the b necessity fons'pri'ngs' or means other than er'andforminga pair of pusherlegs, a

the end of the leg and a transverse'opening intersectingfthe "recess, a pivot pin in the opening extendingthrough an opening :in

the end of the leg to pivotally attach the block to the leg, a contact strip Wrapped around the block with its ends overlapping the top of the block, a plate covering said ends and having side flanges engaging the sides of the block and covering the transverse opening therein, and means for securing the plate to the block.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n. the presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS E. FLANDERS, ANNA M. Donn. 

